Downtown gears for streetscape work

Published 9:00 am, Friday, March 10, 2017

Contractors could tear into downtown Midland as early as June to start on the nearly $9 million streetscape project.

Officials say the more contemporary downtown redesign will cater to more and safer pedestrian usage, create space for outdoor and street events and outdoor dining, and boost bicycle accessibility.

Preliminary work has already begun. Engineering firm DLZ of Michigan did soil borings in late February. City engineers are doing water and sewer reviews and reinforcing leads, Community Affairs Director Selina Tisdale told Downtown Development Authority members at a Thursday meeting.

“We are looking at a 24- to 26-week construction process,” she said, noting work would start in June after the city seeks bids in April and hires a contractor by late May.

The initial stage involves building a curbless, festival-style street at Rodd and McDonald streets.

“From there we’ll continue to move westerly to the Jerome/M-20 street,” Tisdale said. “So, about three weeks into that first block being under demolition, we’ll start the next block, which will be the Oscar’s/Diamond Jim’s block. And then about six weeks into construction, about the time we’re putting the Rodd and McDonald block back together, we’ll start taking down the Pizza Sam’s block for demolition. … We’ll have all three of those blocks under construction about the same time.”

Next in line are the blocks near the courthouse. Tisdale said the city is working closely with the county to ensure streetscape plans line up with the $7.8 million courthouse renovation, which has a March 17 groundbreaking set with construction to start in late August.

“We will both be concluding our construction in those blocks well in time for the Santa train and all the festivities that will take place as we get into later fall and stuff starts ramping up for the holiday season,” Tisdale said.

The last phase targets two blocks east of Rodd Street.

This is a proposed draft timeline that may be tweaked after a contractor is selected, Tisdale said.

No-go: Snowmelt/heated sidewalks

Project planners have spent a lot of time in past weeks discussing options for heated sidewalks and a snowmelt system for 2,100 feet of downtown sidewalks. It would cost $3.6 million to build and $120,000 annually to operate, according to Tisdale.

“There’s no funding for this,” she said.

Not including operation and maintenance costs, the total would be $90,000 if assessed to each downtown property owner. Tisdale said 27 Main Street property owners were notified and of 14 who responded, all said it was too costly; some suggested a more cost-effective snow removal system; and most said the return on investment is not worth it.

The DDA board on Thursday unanimously agreed to eliminate the snowmelt concept from the streetscape plans.

Fountain and fire pits

Tisdale said planners are looking at a fountain, fire pits, shade structures and seating as part of amenities for downtown. She said there are also draft designs of city entranceway features for the Jerome Street entrance to downtown.

The bill to get the word out

The city council on Feb. 13 agreed to spend $30,000 for communication services related to the project. Ann Arbor-based Q+M was selected to brand the streetscape project, create a website and social media outlets and produce fliers, posters and newsletters, among other duties.

Tisdale said the package will give people “anything they need to know about the construction timeline, what’s closed down (and) when, how to access various retailers and restaurants downtown and what we’re doing with events.”